Dave Kane: Cass Gym is venerable county seat

It doesn't seem that long ago when Lincoln Land Community College's Cass Gymnasium was a shiny, brand-new home for the Sangamon County Boys Basketball Tournament.

Then again, I used to have a full head of hair and my waistline was several sizes smaller.

It's hard to believe, but Cass Gym this week will be hosting the county tourney for the 42nd time in the last 43 years. (The 1999 tournament was held at Riverton because of remodeling being done at LLCC. Every gym's entitled to a facelift every quarter-century or so.)

After the tournament rotated from one high school gym to another, plus more than a decade at neutral-site Griffin High, Cass Gym has hosted more county tournaments than any other venue.

Cass has seen countless great games and players every January. From Fetter and Lamb to Bensko and Cuffle, the big gym on the far south side has been the county's proving ground.

Sometimes it's a chilly walk from the parking lot to the gym, but the basketball makes it worth the trip.

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